The people have spoken – and voted for their ten favourite parks in the country…..and our very own Halton Borough Council run Victoria Park was victorious, coming in the top ten!

It was the only park in the North West of England to make the list. And it has been for two years in a row. Runcorn Hill only just missed out, giving us two in the top twenty!

With more than 1,800 sites to choose from, all of which meet the standards demanded by the international Green Flag Award programme, we can all be proud of the success.

Halton Borough Council’s Executive Board Member for the Physical Environment, Cllr Ron Hignett, said: “We have always thought of our parks as jewels in Halton’s crown. And the public agrees.

“Thanks to all the council staff and the many volunteers who help make them look so good.

“To be recognised in the top ten favourite parks in the country rightly recognises the amazing contribution of our staff, all our volunteers and the visitors.

“This vote is the result of years of dedication from a large number of people. It does them all credit and highlights how important all our parks, these two in particular, are to the local community.”

Paul Todd, Green Flag Award Manager, said: “We know that parks matter to people and that receiving a Green Flag Award brings a real sense of achievement and pride to staff, volunteers and the community.

“The number of people that took the time to vote for their favourite park is testament to how much these spaces are valued and we congratulate this year’s top ten.”

The ten winners of the 2019 People’s Choice Award are (in alphabetical order):

Clifton Park Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
Elsecar Park and Local Reservoir Nature Reserve Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Harlow Town Park Harlow District Council
Hollycroft Park Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council
Strathaven Park South Lanarkshire Council
University of Essex Wivenhoe Park University of Essex
Valentines Park Vision Redbridge
Victoria Park (Tower Hamlets) London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Victoria Park (Widnes) HaltonBorough Council
Warley Woods Warley Woods Community Trust